FROM CBB NEWS SOURCEPROVIDENCE, R.I. – West Virginia senior outfielder Austin Markel’s multiple homeruns earned him BIG EAST Player of the Week honors, while sophomore right handed pitcher Thomas Royse of Louisville was named this week’s BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week.

Markel hit .417 (5-for-12) and slugged 1.250 as West Virginia remained in first place in the BIG EAST standings by taking two of three games from St. John’s, which trailed the Mountaineers by a game entering the week. Markel homered in all three games against the Red Storm, including a grand slam to help WVU to a 9-3 win in the opener on April 9. He scored six runs, hit three home runs and drove in nine in the three games against the Red Storm.

Royse threw a one-hit shutout, facing the minimum 24 batters in the Cardinals’ 1-0 eight-inning win against Pittsburgh in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader on April 11 as part of Louisville’s 4-0 week. Royse allowed only one base runner – on a one-out single in the sixth inning – but forced an inning-ending double play on the next pitch. Royse threw 58 strikes on 72 pitches, struck out six without walking a batter and improved to 2-2 on the year.

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